MHA 2008 Awards Ceremony

Alas, I spent all my travel money going to an academic conference in the first Zion (Missouri), so I’m stuck in the second Zion (Utah) and getting regular dispatches from Christopher in the Almost Zion (California). Here’s the list of winners from this year’s awards ceremony.

Best Undergrad Paper: John Brumbaugh, “Return of Anti-Mormonism: Fred Dubois and the Reed Smoot Hearings.”

Thomas L. Kane Award
Presented to a person outside of the Mormon community who made a significant contribution to Mormon history.
This award is presented in the grand tradition of Thomas L. Kane, the Pennsylvania native who, in 1857, put his reputation on the line in behalf of compromise and peace.

As I understand it, it wasn’t just in 1857 and the Utah War, but throughout his life that Kane acted as a friend and intermediary for the Church, especially in political circles.

Matt Grow wrote his dissertation at Notre Dame on Kane which is forthcoming through Yale press.

I want to reiterate the thanks given to the Kings, with whom we’ve worked closely at JWHA. You only imagine how much work goes into running an association like MHA when something goes wrong. By doing all their work so well, the Kings made it appear that these successful conferences happen by magic alone. In addition to the incredible membership gains, the Kings turned MHA’s finances around from dismal to remarkable. They leave big shoes for their successors, Pat Scott and Linda Thatcher, just as Lavina will be leaving some big shoes for her successor.

thanks y’all (who said congrats), and thanks to Matt for sharing the award, and for his response to our session, which was a paper in and of itself, and which elevated the session a hundred fold. I never cease to be amazed at your ability, Matt, to move and read at the same time and infuse the room with energy. ’twas a much fun conference.